Happy Monday! I love dressing up, but don’t always find the right time or place to wear dresses or dressier clothes. This is one of the main reasons I started blogging. I love clothes, OK well shoes and purses and jackets…pretty much everything about it. But, after leaving the corporate world and transitioning to a job in nursing I just don’t have as many opportunities to dress up and wear everything I love to buy. So the blogging began. It was two years ago when I began seeing girls on Instagram posting outfits and sharing their designer digs and thought to myself “I have all of these clothes and no place to wear them…I should do that!” For today’s post I am going to share a few of my tips for starting a blog.
Ha! For a year and half I just did it, no rhyme or reason. Just followed a few people to see what and how they were doing things and started doing the same, just in my own style. It was fun and I loved creating looks, but I wanted more out of it. I decided I wanted to build a business out of it. It wasn’t until Amelia was a baby, you know up all night breastfeeding, that I started researching and discovering ways to actually grow my blog, following and utilized it as a business. I spent hours looking up tips for starting a blog, tools and tactics to grow, changed my blog over to self-hosting (BEST decision I ever made!) and moving towards a regular posting schedule.
There have been a lot of ups and downs in the past 10 months, but I have learned a lot. The first thing I learned is blogging is not easy, it’s actually a TON of work. Partly because I’m doing it on the side. I have my full time job as an ICU nurse, plus I have kids, so the only time I have to work on it is after they go to bed and before they get up. SO if you’re thinking of starting a blog, or already have one and wanting to move towards monetizing it, then I want to warn you…BE PREPARED TO WORK and put in a ton of hours! Below are a few more tips for starting a blog.
Tips For Starting A Blog
- Find your niche. What do you love, what excites you and what could you talk about for hours? This is extremely important because people can tell if it’s really your thing and what you’re passionate about. Once you find your niche, then you can easily get started. Know what makes your voice different from those already out there and you’ll have a ton of things to talk about.
- Be Consistent. When I started blogging I only posted when I had time. Days and times were random, but I noticed what I loved about the first few people I began to follow was they posted on a schedule. I knew when to expect a new post up and head over to their blog to get new content.
- Stay Organized. This is one I struggle with on the daily. It’s hard because there are so many components to monetizing your blog. Things I try to do are make lists and keep a hand written calendar. This helps me see the whole month at a glance, which is hard to do on phone calendars.
- Don’t Give-Up. I can’t tell you how many time I have thought to myself “why am I even doing this, I don’t have that many views or reader. What’s the point?” There are many ups and downs, but keep working and pushing foward!
I hope these tips are helpful. Also, if you currently blog I’d love to hear your tips for getting started, or even maintaining your blogging business!
PS: I have been loving my computer skin (see this post). Use Code KALLIE20 for 20% off your purchase at CaseApp,
Thanks for stopping by!
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Lovely read dear, I couldnt agree more, especially on #2. Be Consistent. Indeed, consistency is key to success in almost anything in life.
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
You and I are so similar! I actually started my blog for the same reasons. Love to dress up but not always practical for a mom and kindergarten teacher! Love your tips ! So important to stay organized and not give up!
This sounds similar to my story! I was craving more than my mundane desk job so I used my blog as a creative space. And now it’s my full time job! Congrats and thanks for the tips!
Love your insights and advice. Finding your niche is everything so that you are always motivated to go back and give back 😉
Thank you so much for sharing babe!!! I think finding your niche is EVERYTHING!
Very useful tips and advice!
XO
Aimara
http://www.waysofstyle.com
Really awesome to read how you first started darling. I felt honestly exactly the same… and cane through all these stages… i feel that givinb up is a big problem in our world… especially if one has the feeling that noone reads their stuff. And that is not ok.
Thank you
Kallie,
These tips are amazing! Couldn’t have said it better myself!!
Hello dear, loved this post so much! Loved learning about how you started. All the tips you have given are awesome and will sure help all the up and coming bloggers!
Love, Dom
Thank you for sharing your story and your tips! Blogging is such a fun thing to do and it’s amazing that it can be turned into an actual job!
http://www.meghanlaurie.com
I’m so proud of you doing this full time and you tips are right ones! I can relate a much myself as I’ve only done in approx a year from now!
Thomas xx